Audio Solution Needed - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

meanSpleen · 10-22-2003, 06:40 PM

Okay, heres the rundown of whats going on:
I work in an office cubicle farm, with about 15 other people in a room the size of a 1 bedroom house. They play canned music all day, everyday, and the same songs all day, everyday. I want to listen to my CD's while I work.

Problem: No Headphones allowed.

Solution:
I need a way to have a set of speakers (small mind you, real small) where sound quality is not a factor. I want to be able to have it loud enough for me to hear it, but not audible about 2 feet away. I know they (companies) are working on directional audio components that don't spread soundwaves like regular speakers, but the waves go out in a line like a laser. So unless you are in the line of the soundwaves, you cannot hear it.

Is there a way that I can cheaply (less than $100) create this on my own? Or is there already something on the market that does this?

Thanks for any help!

The_Dude · 10-22-2003, 06:53 PM

here is a ghetto way.

plug some headphoes in and then lay them on your desk.

now, turn the volume up to the max. so, the sound will be comin out of the headphones that are on your desk.

meanSpleen · 10-22-2003, 08:53 PM

The sound will still be heard as it filters throughout the room. If I wanted to do that, I'd get a crappy set of speakers and put it on low to get the same effect. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Any other ideas?

longjohns · 10-23-2003, 05:38 AM

you might experiment with gluing a speaker into a plastic bowl or something. i'm thinking of something along the lines of one of those parabolic microphones. it might get the sound focused in a straight line. one worry is that you might need a true parabola for it to be effective.

just an idea

longjohns · 10-23-2003, 05:40 AM

or put a small speaker at the end of a tube which points at your head??

lol trying to picture what your desk is going to look like :-)

spived2 · 10-23-2003, 06:05 AM

Do a search on Parabolic speakers. You may be able to find a small one that will suit your situation.

alpha phi · 10-23-2003, 06:19 AM

Hey! I've got an idea!
Get an earphone that looks like a hearing aid, then plug it into your walkman.
It could work.

hrdwareguy · 10-23-2003, 06:46 AM

I like longjohns idea of putting the speaker at the end of a tube, such as a paper towel tube, or a pringles can to focus the sound in your direction.

shalafi · 10-23-2003, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hrdwareguy
I like longjohns idea of putting the speaker at the end of a tube, such as a paper towel tube, or a pringles can to focus the sound in your direction.

ya and just for grins write sony or bose or sumpin on the tube. but you have to write it in crayon.

meanSpleen · 10-23-2003, 06:10 PM

hehe, I'll try the can thing, that might work if I can figure out how to insulate it so the sound waves don't travel in the can's material, but just within the chamber of the can.

THanks longjohns

And no shalafi. I will not write it in crayon. I'm using the pimp new glitter pens.

10-22-2003, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	Audio Solution Needed Okay, heres the rundown of whats going on: I work in an office cubicle farm, with about 15 other people in a room the size of a 1 bedroom house. They play canned music all day, everyday, and the same songs all day, everyday. I want to listen to my CD's while I work. Problem: No Headphones allowed. Solution: I need a way to have a set of speakers (small mind you, real small) where sound quality is not a factor. I want to be able to have it loud enough for me to hear it, but not audible about 2 feet away. I know they (companies) are working on directional audio components that don't spread soundwaves like regular speakers, but the waves go out in a line like a laser. So unless you are in the line of the soundwaves, you cannot hear it. Is there a way that I can cheaply (less than $100) create this on my own? Or is there already something on the market that does this? Thanks for any help! __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

10-22-2003, 06:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	here is a ghetto way. plug some headphoes in and then lay them on your desk. now, turn the volume up to the max. so, the sound will be comin out of the headphones that are on your desk. __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

10-22-2003, 08:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	The sound will still be heard as it filters throughout the room. If I wanted to do that, I'd get a crappy set of speakers and put it on low to get the same effect. Thanks for the suggestion though. Any other ideas? __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

10-23-2003, 06:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
spived2 Desert Rat Location: Arizona	Do a search on Parabolic speakers. You may be able to find a small one that will suit your situation. __________________ "This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V." - V

10-23-2003, 06:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
alpha phi seeker Location: home	Hey! I've got an idea! Get an earphone that looks like a hearing aid, then plug it into your walkman. It could work. __________________ All ideas in this communication are sole property of the voices in my head. (C) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 "The Voices" (TM). All rights reserved.

10-23-2003, 05:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
longjohns Insane	you might experiment with gluing a speaker into a plastic bowl or something. i'm thinking of something along the lines of one of those parabolic microphones. it might get the sound focused in a straight line. one worry is that you might need a true parabola for it to be effective. just an idea

10-23-2003, 05:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
longjohns Insane	or put a small speaker at the end of a tube which points at your head?? lol trying to picture what your desk is going to look like :-)

10-23-2003, 06:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
hrdwareguy "Officer, I was in fear for my life" Location: Oklahoma City	I like longjohns idea of putting the speaker at the end of a tube, such as a paper towel tube, or a pringles can to focus the sound in your direction. __________________ Gun Control is hitting what you aim at Aim for the TFP, Donate Today

10-23-2003, 06:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	hehe, I'll try the can thing, that might work if I can figure out how to insulate it so the sound waves don't travel in the can's material, but just within the chamber of the can. THanks longjohns And no shalafi. I will not write it in crayon. I'm using the pimp new glitter pens. __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!